Michael Mann has confirmed that he has submitted the first draft of his screenplay for Heat 2 to Warner Bros, a much-anticipated sequel to his 1995 crime thriller.
In a recent Q&A session with Vulture, the renowned director, known for his distinctive cinematic style and the film featuring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, revealed, "I just finished the screenplay and handed in the first draft."
As expected, the plot details of the sequel remain confidential. Mann only disclosed that he delivered the script to "Warner Brothers" and added, "Any more than that, I can’t talk about. But it’s an exciting project."
Heat, widely considered one of Mann's most celebrated and influential films, explores the complex relationship between a meticulous criminal mastermind, portrayed by De Niro, planning a final heist, and a dedicated police lieutenant, played by Pacino, grappling with personal challenges. Despite their opposing roles, they develop a mutual respect. The film also featured performances by Val Kilmer, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Natalie Portman, and Jon Voight.
Last December, Mann also expressed his desire to proceed with his previously discussed film about the 1968 Battle of Hué, a significant and bloody conflict during the Vietnam War, where South Vietnamese and U.S. forces reclaimed the city of Hué after a month of intense urban combat.
During the interview, Mann addressed the resurgence of interest in his films: "I don’t like to speculate. I think it may have to do with what’s in the work. I’m not a journeyman director; I’d like to be because I love shooting. But I put a lot into a film, and so I think sometimes they have layers of relating. They’re not simple. They may be totally accessible — not all my films, but some of them may be accessible just as something that’s going to flow, just going to occupy you for two hours or two hours and 45 minutes in the case of Heat and Insider — but there’s also a lot there because my ambition was to put a lot of depth into it. I probably shouldn’t even be answering this question, to tell you the truth.